Self-powered cathodic protection and electrolytic descaling device



March 12, 1963 D. SPECTOR SELF-POWERED CATHODIC PROTECTION ANDELECTROLYTIC DESCALING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1958 DovSPECTOR March 12,- 1963 D. SPECTOR 3,081,251

SELF-POWERED CATHODIC PROTECTION AND ELECTROLYTIC DESCALING DEVICE FiledDec. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofl 3,031,251Patented Mar. 12, 1963 See 1 3,081,251 SELF-POWERED CATHODIC PROTECTIONAND ELECTROLYTIC DESCALING-DEVIGE Dov specton'Citrus-l-louse, 22Harakevet St,

1 2. 1 TelAviv, Israel 1 Filed Dec. -1, 1958, Ser. No. 777,493 Claimspriority, application Israel Oct. 31 1958 .11 Claims. (Cl. 204-196) Thisinvention relates to a device which serves for cathOdic'protectiOn ofthe hullsof ships, water-pipes or other bodies, stationary or floating,and for the descaling of'the same. -It is known to the art to constructa subrnersible D.C.supply unit, which comprises in a hermetivide d foron theideck'of the vessel, while. the galvanic or '7 electrolyteanodeloranodes are placedon the hull of the ship at a heightf which isnormally submerged, and are preferably arranged on or about the bilgekeel. Since it is. desiredto distribute the current evenly over a largearea of theh'ull of the vessel,Jthe anode canbe placed at some distancefrom the vessel. i

The primary object of the present invention is to provide aself-'contained'cathodic pr'otection'and electrolytic descaling unit,which is independent of a supply of current to be fed from the coast orfrom the deck of the water vessel. 7

I Afurther object of the invention is to enlargethe field of applicationof cathodic protection and electrolyticdescaling especially tostationary hodies, such as waterpipes, tanks, boilers and the like. 1

Batman object of the inve'ntio'n is to dispense with a transtormerrectifier within the unit.

.,'According to the invention,: the unit is equipped with FIGURE 1 is aincluding a cathodic protection and electrolytic descaling unit;

aj'lpiopeller, driven by fluid -flow within the pipe. The

propeller-shaft itself is conii ected'to drive a generator,

either of the unipolar orbip0lar type. The generator is hermeticallysealed within the unit, but for the current line leading to one or moreanodes, which are tightly in-.

s'erted intoithe outer wall of the unit. 3 The unit is rigidly attachedto or moving within the pipe or other vessel in such away that itspropeller isexposed tothe flow of water. 'The speed of the propeller iscontrollable by an adjustable gearing-means provided for on the unit.The

negative 'pole continuously makes contact with the body to beprotectedor descaled, such asawater-pipe, while the positive pole isconnected to theanode or anodes on the casing in constant contact withthe electrolyte,such as water.

sponse more or less current, respectively.

The unit may be self-propelled and connected to and kept spaced from,the bilge keel by any suitable means.

In using the unit for water pipes, the propeller pitch For operation theinterior ofpipes, tanks or other 2 of the unit may be adjusted to movethe unit within the pipe at a speed dependent on the velocity of thewater within the pipe or at a lower speed. Suitable brakes may beprovided. In this manner, self-adjustment of the descaling operation atthe normal rate of the water supply may beaccomplished.

5 For a continuous protection of the water pipes, a plurality or" unitsmay be inserted in sequence to run at predetermined distancesspaced'from each preceding and following unit inthe water line, so thatthe descaling and anticorrosive operation may take place continuously.

Experience shows that the greater is the speed of flow against thevessel or in the water pipe, the greater is the ratio of corrosion. Thedevice according to the invention is capable of meeting the requirementsfor'higher currents necessary-to achieve cathodic protection at the moreintense corrosion conditions caused by greater velocities-of theelectrolyte. T

Often when 'oil, brine or other fluids are conveyed through a'pipecausing destructive deposits, sediments and other accumulations such aswax, it is desirable to combine the cathodic protection and electrolyticdescaling with a mechanical scraping. The unit of the presentinventionis simultaneously capable thereof, by carrying a conventionalpipewall scraper attachment, and/or by utilizingipart of the currentfrom its generatorto heat'a heater'mounted on the surface of the unit tomelt the wax formation along its path. The unit structure may of coursebe used solely for mechanical scraping.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood byreference'to the following detailed descriptionwhen considered inconnection with the accompanying drawingsjin which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout theffigures thereof andwherein; V j

longitudinal cross section through a pipe FIGURE 2 showsdiagrammatically an alternative'elejc' trical connection of'a unit shownin FIGURE l;

- roUREs is a side view' r a ship in water with a trail:

ing unit of the present invention, dragging operablyfattached thereto; 7e t FIGURE 4 is a plan'viewjof a floating ship with twjo trailing units,one on each side;

FIGURE Sis a front view of a vessel with two units, rigidly attached'tothe ship. In the embodiment shown inFIGURE 1 the pipe 1 of casing isclosed at its front'and rear ends by caps '5 and 6 made of insulatingmaterial hermetically shutting 011 the room 4. The caps are held inposition on the'casing by a number of tie bars 20. The unit glides onthe inner wall of pipe 1 on casters 7, two being shown spaced atthefront on a centrally located shaft 10, each by means of a leg 13, thelegs mounted opposite to each other with a central bearing 12, throughwhich also turns the shaft 10.

A third caster is shown arranged at the opposite end of the unit; Onefront caster 7 is shown mounted on a gear 8, forming a part of ageartrain ending with a worm reduction gear 9, the latter mounted onshaft 10. The shaft 10 bears at itsfront edge a propeller 11 while itsopposite end protrudes, through cap 6 and a sealing ring 14 arranged inthe latter, into the room-4. In the front of room 4 a D.C. generator 15,and at its rear end a com -mutator'16, are mounted on shaft 7 10. ofshaftltl runs in bearingsl17.

, knife, or "prorieller.

211116 casings fuuetiomasan anode.

j asascraperjand/orwaxjrernover. V. l, g

In the ja a rrangenients' shown'in'FIGURES13 5, units, H

' aritofthat shown in FIGURE 1 maybe used, :The'

' are orn'itted'. The units thehull area andffthereby 'iinifor distance"from, the

a The rear end 18 uThepositive terminalof the commutator connects withfa'nj inert anode element lgsuch asgraphite, platinum,

clad of copper, which anode in the example shown in 'FIGURE 1 forms-anintegral part ofthe'anodecasing 3.

The anode is jcontinuously' exposed to the fluid, running through the"pipe which functions as the electrolytes 1A 7 I bfentcablell is attachedto the-negativeiterminal of the commutator and leads throughithe-rearcap 5,:"se'aled: against the electrolyte by a'stuflingbox with glandfg22, to, r the spider o f the rearcasterjl"Thus thefcurrentflowsthrough fanode 19 to the wall efihe im 'lwhich con: stitutes thecathodeand back through cable 2 1;

V -In the embodimentshown in FIGURE '2 the alternator 3 produces 19 and;the negative "terminal to the rear caster 7Q I -i When the unit is tobe'used for purposes of mechanical scraping of" deposits, sediments orwaninwater" or oil V 'f c'onduita 'the frontend of the sh'aftmay beextended-and provided with one orinoi-e conventional, pipe'scrapers, a

@Slip rings 24 arranged adjacent to the alternator in'akeconnection-with a rectifier 25, theposnf "tive terminator which isconnected tojthe anode element said first and second leads. V e i r L V3. A cathodic protectiondevice as 'inclairn l, ajplua and negativeoutputterrninals, apropell'er journaled on said casing externallythereof for rotation by and in re- I sponse to relative translationbetween said casing and a liquid in'which it is immersed, a drivingconnection between said propeller and said generator means, acathodeterminal fixed with 'saidcasing externallythereof, a first leadconnecting 'said 'positivetoutput terminal with said metallic wallportion to-thereby place said positive output 1 terminal in direct'electr'icalconta'ct with a liquid in which j the deviee-is immersed,and asec'ond lead connecting said negative output "terminal. with said,cathode terminal; f

g .2. A cathodic'protection device as,recitedinielairn lj a saidgenerator means including an alternator, andla rec- Y tifierconnected'between the outputof said alternator'jand 'jirality. offcasters, means journalirig said casters "onisaid casingexternallythereof, for rotation about' discrete axes uorrnalto the axis of'rotatio n" off said propeller, said casters being" arranged to guidesaid device through? tubular passageway bytcontact with thefwallsthereof;

whichiusuallyjhave the-shape of coiled wire, cylindrical I or scrapersare employed, they preferably are of increasing' diameters' fron1 frontto rear.

A .propeller type knife or knives mayibe rigidly interposed between thepropeller-".11 and casters .7, mounted rigidly on shaft '10,"or thepropeller 11 itself equipped-with sharp edges may perform asecon'dary'cutting and scraping function.

If a plurality v, 'For removal 'of deposits capableof melting, the unitI may be provided with; an electricheateroutilizing for thisfpurpose aportion of the currentfromthefgenerator.

The casin 3 itself rn'ayjbe connected fby con'ventional aneanstoserveasthe heater. .Th

is will notinterfere with a Thus the unit ma serve:independentlyfof.itscathodic] Zprotection and descaling. functionyor lin additionthereto, f,

ters propellers er the units g I By'i'a 'a 1eizs,; below thefjwater linetrailing at the aft. Ihe propellerin thiscase :is' preferably arrangedat gtherarend oflthe unit, a

propeller and generator fiowsfas,indicatedjbythe arrows =hull ofthevessel, The spacing of the unit remote from causes unifiorm'currentfdistribut I cathodie'protection. T, I

A i two un tsgare wshowrijattached..to the (if the vessel.

lIn FIGURES th'funits 527are rigidly attached each at V v V bilgekeel29, by rigid bars30 in a plane below thebilge keel. In each ofthearr-angementss'hown'in FIGURES 3-5 the units-are permanently sub: 7'inergcd'inwater. r 7

1 It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure"relates 'to only preferred embodimentsof 'the.

l Thecurrent produced within the unit by means either 5 "FIGURE 13 andthus jgives cathodic protection I to the;

i-ai iqn'id fi hi casingih e j a wall portion for'ming anode means,a'cathodefleadjexten 50,

over the hull 5 5' belo the-W r e. V v ,o'f thevessel andgspacedjfronthem, bo thjren-i w idering cathodio brotectiop t the starboard and portside invention'and that it is intended tocover all changes and'rnodifieations of "the examples 'of the invention'herein i chosen forthe purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute-departures fromthespirit and scope of the in- 'yentionset forthtintheappended claims. i7 f Iclaim: .ILA mobile cathodic liquidstightvcasing having erotectiondevice comprising a 7 v q ametallic wall portion, generator meansmounted within saidcasing and having positive 7 extending through onesaid cap, a propellerfiit'ed on said a shaft exteriorly of said casing;a driving connection inte 75rior1y of said casing, between said shaftand said generamounted in said casing an ,and drive nieansconnecting'said propeller withatlea'st I one said caster to efiect simultaneousrotationj thereof with said propeller' 4. A cathodic protection naled insaid bracket." V 1 ,5-.'A mobile cathodic protection device comprising atallic' wall portion of said "casing, mounted withinsaid easingandhavin'g p'ofl V tive output terminals; a cathode fixed with' sa'i 7liquid-tight casing having anode means'compris'ing amd I casingexternally thereof "and -electricall y insulated therefrom, ta firstleadconnectingjtlie positive output termina 'of,

saidi'generator means with 'fsaid "anode means, a second lead insulated:from saidncasing'ian'd connecting the ne aid generator fmean means byand in re pons terrelanve translation, bet

h I s iinrners anode means being 'nlelectr a ly conduetive, relat onsh6. A mobile unit, orcathod 4 ,iorotection electrically eonducti ingthrough a wall'of saidcasingjto' the"euterior thereof and electricallyinsulatedth e rrom,;a,-D;..,c. generator" I v ai ing-electricalconnections between Qits positive 'and' negative outputf terminals and,said, anode means and"cathode lead, respectiy'ely,

peller rneansjournal'ed ons'a'id casing exteriorly thereof forr'otationby and in response to. relative movement betwe'enlsaid cas'ing'andaliqhid in which itisti i mersedg and a drivingshaftconnectiori'between s'aidprooelleri I means" anidl said 7generator, 1'

7,. Ajunit a :recitedji'n claim *ajsfaid asin {damaging j r 'e'ctr'ic.end caps se;

tivej ends of said tube, fsaid .d'rivingshaft gextending through'onesaidrend cap,-said anode being electrically. attached to the insidewall'ofsaid tube, andfsaijd cathode. leadextending-through theotherfsaid end cap. a, 1

' 8. In a mobile unit for ,cathodicjprotection, aliquidtight casingcomprising'a section (if-metallic tubehaving a longitudinal axis ofsymmetry and first and ,jse'cond di-electric caps secured to therespective ends of said tube to seal the same,'a,generator mountedwithinsaid casing, ashaft journaled, coaxially of the axis of said tubeand 7 'jdelvice f irigclaiin fbi said v I cathode terminalcomprising'abracketQfiXed 'Withand insula'ted'frorn saidcasingone ofsaidicastersb'eiug' jo'urf,

. ,ndnggg; I a

an anode in a conducting portion of one wall thereof, a

generator mounted within said casing, a propeller journaled on saidcasing exteriorly thereof for rotation on said axis in response totranslation of said casing through a liquid, a driving connectionbetween said propeller and the rotor of said generator, and comprising ashaft extending through a wall of said casing, a cathode lead extendingthrough a wall of said casing for electrical connection with an objectto be protected, and electrical connections between output terminals ofsaid generator and said anode and cathode lead, respectively, said anodein electrically conductive relationship with the casing.

10. A mobile unit as recited in claim 9, and a plurality of castersconnected with said casing externally thereof, all said casters beingjournaled on parallel axis normal to said longitudinal axis andcooperating to support said casing for translation in and along aconduit.

11. A device for cathodic protection comprising, a

- cylindrical metallic tube, first and second end caps of dielectricmater-ial secured over the respective ends of said tube to form aliquid-tight casing having a first central longitudinal axis, a shaft.journaled in one said cap for rotation on said axis, generator meansmounted in said casing and connected with one end of said shaft to bedriven thereby,- a propeller fixed on the other end of said shaft forrotation by and in'response to translation of said casing through andrelatively to a liquid in which it is immersed, an anode, fixed in onewall of said tube, a cathode terminal fixed to the other said cap, afirst lead connecting the positive output of said generator means withsaid anode, a second lead passing through said other cap and connectingthe negative output of said generator means with said cathode terminal,a guide caster journaled exteriorly of said casing on a second axisfixed relatively thereto normal to said first axis, and a drivingconnection between said shaft and said caster, said anode inelectrically conductive relationship with the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS525,304 Woods Aug. 28, 1894 868,798 McLaughlin Oct. 22, 1907 1,831,835Allee Nov. 17, 1931 2,021,519 Polin Nov. 19, 1935 2,276,714 Brown Mar.17, 1942 2,370,288 Brolinson Feb. 27, 1945 2,530,524 Hlavin Nov. 21,1950 2,863,819 Preiser Dec. 9, 1958 2,916,429 Vossnack et a1 Dec. 8,1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 865,083 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1961

1. A MOBILE CATHODIC PROTECTION DEVICE COMPRISING A LIQUID-TIGHT CASINGHAVING A METALLIC WALL PORTION, GENERATOR MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDCASING AND HAVING POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE OUTPUT TERMINALS, A PROPELLERJOURNALED ON SAID CASING EXTERNALLY THEREOF FOR ROTATION BY AND INRESPONSE TO RELATIVE TRANSLATION BETWEEN SAID CASING AND A LIQUID INWHICH IT IS IMMERSED, A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID PROPELLER ANDAID GENERATOR MEANS, A CATHODE TERMINAL FIXED WITH SAID CASINGEXTERNALLY THEREOF, A FIRST LEAD CONNECTING SAID POSITIVE OUTPUTTERMINAL WITH SAID METALLIC WALL PORTION TO THEREBY PLACE SAID POSITIVEOUTPUT TERMINAL IN DIRECT ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH A LIQUID IN WHICH THEDEVICE IS IMMERSED, AND A SECOND LEAD CONNECTING SAID NEGATIVE OUTPUTTERMINAL WITH SAID CATHODE TERMINAL.